Sit back, listen and enjoy

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Podcasts. With the huge rise of new streaming media platforms, the idea of listening to a 45-minute “show” without seeing anything visual seems like a foreign concept in today’s age. When people hear that I listen to podcasts, especially with being a high schooler, they make assumptions that I am boring or enjoy out-of-date activities. However, over the past couple of years, there has been an increase in those listening to podcasts. According to the New York Times, ‘more than half the people in the United States have listened to one, and nearly one out of three people listen to at least one podcast every month.’

In my case, I listen to a podcast almost every day. My obsession with podcasts have only begun within the past year, but when analyzing my life, I began to realize that I have been in love with the idea of storytelling without visuals since I was a little girl.

It all began in 2005 with a podcast called “Adventure in Odyssey” hosted by Focus on the Family. The podcast consists of 30-minute stories of characters in a made-up town called Odyssey. The episodes involve characters facing a dilemma and finding their way to a solution through faith-based lessons. Looking back, they were always a little cheesy, but even now when I’m having a hard time falling asleep, the short and sweet stories never fail to put me to sleep.

Flashforward to today, I have begun to partake in listening to podcasts of all realms. From podcasts that discuss murder to podcasts that talk about technology, I have hit almost all the genres. Recently, I have been very into a podcast called Reply All that has investigative episodes that always relate back to technology in some way. The last episode I listened to discussed a murder in Barrington and how the accused murderer created a blog on the internet while facing a life-long sentence in jail.

Ever since I have truly dove into the realm of podcasts, I have seen how effective it has been for my own life. For starters, it has resulted in me being able to get more homework done before midnight. Unlike Netflix and YouTube, podcasts don’t necessarily require my utmost attention – especially because they don’t require my visual attention. I am often able to turn on a podcast, be entertained and still complete all my homework in a timely matter.

They don’t subtract anything from my life such as time and I have found that they have, in fact, only added to my life. Podcasts invite for interesting and non-surface level conversation. For someone who doesn’t keep up on the news, I have found myself to be more informed on the world around me and discussing those important topics with my family and friends.

The accessibility of podcasts is impeccable! I am able to turn on an episode on the way to school or on a plane or anywhere where I often get bored. I listen to podcasts when I get ready for school, when I am making breakfast, or when I am cleaning my room. One can listen to a podcast in almost any place and at any time.

Podcasts have informed me on more information that I could ever imagine knowing. Especially in our fast-paced world, it is nice to be able to sit and simply listen to an episode that will not only entertain me but give me insight into our world. So, I challenge you, if you are looking for some spice in your life or simply just a way to pass time in a long car ride, sit back, listen, and enjoy the show.